LUKE CHANDRESINGHE

UNDERCOVER ARCHITECTURE

Chadresinghe is not dissuaded by awkward logistics. In the design of his own home in London, he decided to build a large steel bath tub measuring 2.4m x 1.4m, which he commissioned from someone who makes dentist furniture out of steel. This innovative and adventurous attitude towards design is the spirit in which, with his wife Estelle, he established his firm Undercover architects in 2012. Despite avoiding PR and marketing thus far, he now employs nine architects and his hands are busy.

Having worked for a number of prestigious practices, Chadresinghe wanted to get away from trends, and soulless commissions. ‘There’s a lot of integrity to what we do,’ he says, ‘we don’t just use materials, colours or shapes because they’re fashionable, we start with an idea and build a story, often taking inspiration from films.’

Undercover designs the entire building, inside and out, and are not afraid to use colour or texture. ‘We don’t have a design doctrine,’ says Chadresinghe, ‘instead we work with the client and what they want.’

It can be difficult when building a new house, he says, to introduce soul or character. But from evidence of schemes completed thus far and his quirky architectural drawings, it is apparent that an Undercover scheme will have character in spades.